Claim For A Missing Ring.

[Bigbad]

My Dad’s gold cygnet ring went missing while he was in hospital.
It has been confirmed by the housekeeper as listed with his possessions.
I’ve been told to make a claim for it, but don’t know where to start. I’ve looked at items online, but the values vary from small to large amounts.

It belonged to my Mum’s uncle, and Dad was given it when the uncle died.
It was supposed to go to my son, so fourth generation.

I don’t want to look greedy by claiming too much, but I don’t want to claim too little, either.
Whatever we get, my family have decided to give the money to charity.

How much would you claim for?

[bednobs]

some insurance policies have a limit on how much per singleitem, or won't insure stuff that is paricularly valuable unless it's specified in the policy.beware, your home insurance policy will goup next time too

[Bigbad]

Sorry, bednobs, I didn’t make it clear:
I’ve been told to put in a claim against the hospital.
Apparently, they have a dedicated claims department!

[hc4361]

Depends on whether the signet ring is 9 carat, 18 or higher - it makes a huge difference. Also the weight.

Have you got any photos or a better description?

[bednobs]

i see now where i was confused - you are going to claim money from the NHS, and give it to a charity?

[hc4361]

The value of the ring is everything - sentimental value is not counted for insurance or compensation purposes, even for heirlooms.

[bednobs]

i think that's why im a little perplexed ... the op has already said the monetary value means nothing to them, so i wonder why they are claiming

[bednobs]

not that that answers the q of course, sorry bigbad.
Is there anyone i the family who would know anything about the quality and size? i'm not sure without any proof of that that it's a starter

[bednobs]

or loss spath, Perhaps it fell off the dad's finger while i bed and was whisked away with the bedsheets? I would imagine the op would have reported itto the police if they thought it had been stolen?

[Bigbad]

I’m not saying it was stolen, spathiphyllum, but Dad couldn’t get out of bed by himself, nor could he reach the tray on wheels or the bedside unit.

It’s possible that another ring is missing. He always wore two, and I have asked the housekeeper to go back over the records to see if this is listed anywhere.

There was also a pair of glasses and a set of dentures go missing - but I won’t be pursuing these. Especially the dentures!
He was on so many different wards, that I lost count.

I’m claiming because it’s an item that was listed and has disappeared.
It had been taped to his finger.
We cremated him last week, and want the money to go to Alzheimers Rsearch which was the charity that some people donated to in lieu of flowers.

[237SJ]

The value would depend on what carat gold it was and the weight. I would be inclined to look in some jewellery shop windows (maybe a second hand one) and see if there are any rings of an approximate size then ask the jeweller how many ounces it is. Then have a look at the current price of gold.

[237SJ]

I meant similar size (not approximate)

[Bigbad]

I doubt I could even describe it any more than a gold cygnet ring, 237SJ.
It’s just something thats been there for a long time, and I never took much notice of it.
I say it was square on the top, and my sister says it was oval!
Having looked at similar online already, I still don’t know where to start.

[bhg481]

I would guess at about £100 for a bog-standard 9ct gold signet ring. That's the new price but I can't see that being classed as you ripping them off.

[hc4361]

No doubt you've seen that old gold signet (a cygnet is a young swan) rings fetch from £80 to £800+ depending on the carat and weight so your guess will be far better than ours as you have the advantage of having seen it.

It might be possible to check if he had it listed as a valuable on his house contents insurance - he would have given a value on that.

[Bigbad]

Signet - of course! What a stupid error!

It wasn’t listed on his Insurance. Even if it was high value, I doubt it would have occurred to him. Or me, as I did all his financial stuff for the last few years.

[hc4361]

Just a thought - has he gifted it in his Will?

[Bigbad]

No, hc4361.
He said he wanted my son to have a ring, but nothing official.
Fortunately, we found another ring in the house, (one that I had forgotten about, as Dad hadn't worn it in years) which when I cleaned it, I could see Dad’s initials engraved on it, so my son will have this instead.

We all just wanted a small keepsake.
I have the tankard I bought him in 1978.

[hc4361]

Could the ring have been on his finger at the undertakers?